New police station opening date set

THE NEW headquarters for Filey Police Station is expected to open in May, according to a senior officer.

Sgt Chris Gosling announced plans for the station, which will be located on the first floor of the Evron Centre, at the Safer Neightbourhoods meeting on Wednesday evening.

He stated that work on the centre is likely to start within the next three weeks with a view to opening in late-may.

Staffing levels will remain as they are following the move, which Sgt Gosling says was largely a financial decision, adding: “We have to save the money where we can.”

The decision is also due to the current building simply being too big for the force’s needs, with Sgt Gosling saying that they only currently use “about a quarter” of the space at the station on Murray Street.

Sgt Gosling said there had been some issues with the new building, most notably disability access.

However, these have now been resolved and it’s expected the building will open on schedule, with Sgt Gosling stating that he expects the building to create a “more professional” environment.

Concerns were raised by members of the public at the meeting. Some raised the issue of police actually being at the station during opening hours, with one resident explaining that he has had difficulties in the past reaching the force.

In response, Sgt Gosling said: “We have to look at the times it does get used.

“If people do want to speak to an officer, there will be, like now, a yellow phone on the side of the door.”

He also said that he wouldn’t be using officers to cover staff shortages, adding: “Firstly, it costs too much and that’s not their role. “We want them on the street.” The move is expected to save the force approximately £13,000 a year.

The current station on Murray Street is expected to be sold.

It was announced previously that the force would not move until the sale of the current station had been rubber-stamped.

However, with May now forecast as a move date, it appears that the force believe the station will be sold in time.